Doll



- M. WI TMA'NN DOLL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. Jan. 51, 1936 MIN 1 INVENTOR.

M. WITTMANN Jan. 17, 1 939.

DOLL

Filed Jan. 51, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r m w M A iy.

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 'UNITED STATES FATET' OFFICE I I I 2,144,436 I I DOLL Marie Wittmann, New York, N. Y. Application January 31, 1936, Serial No. 61,739

23 Claims.

The present improvements relate in general to dolls and similar toy figures and more particularly to mechanism for preventing movement of certain parts of dolls. .In this connection it is noteworthy that the present application is a continuation in part of the parent co-pending application Serial No. 754,956, filed November 27, 1934-.

' A primary object of the improvements is to provide improved mechanism for arresting movement of the eyes at will, and without resort to manipulation of a push button or lever. Another object is to provide a novel detent arrangement operable by turning the body and head relative to each other for releasably locking the eyes.

Another object is to utilize a turning movement of the head of a doll relative to its body, after the latter has been placed in a reclining position to close the eyes of the doll, to maintain said eyes closed should said doll thereafter be raised to a substantially vertical or upright position.

A further object is to provide means for preserving the open or closed condition of the eyes, irrespective-of subsequent changes in the posture of the doll body, and for subsequently releasing or restoring them.

A further object is to provide mechanism, operable by turning the head of the doll, for preserving the open or'closed condition of the eyes, irrespective of subsequent changes in the posture of the doll body, and for subsequently releasing or restoring them by turning the head of the doll.

Another object is to provide mechanism for permitting the eyes of a doll to be open when the doll body is-horizontal or vertical; to be closed when horizontal or vertical, and also to be open when vertical and closed when horizontal.

' Another object is to provide an improved means for preventing rotation of the dolls headbeyond a prescribed position relative to the doll body. 7

A further object is to provide an improved neck joint structure for retaining the head on the body, and for maintaining same liquid and airtight, while at the same time permitting turning of the head. 7

'Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in-the art upon reference to the accompanying specification and drawings in which v Fig. l is a longitudinal section of a dolls head illustrating a conventional form of eyeactuating mechanism in association with the present improvements; the eyes being'open;

' Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustratingthe relation of parts when the eyes are closed by the eye actuating mechanism;

Fig.3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the eyes releasably locked in open position;

Fig. 4 is a View similar. to Fig. 2 showing the 5 eyes releasably locked in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal'section through thehead of the doll in Fig. 4, illustrating the manner in which the eyes are maintained in closed position when the head is turned relative to the body, parts being omitted for convenience in illustration;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, withv parts omitted, showing the relation of parts when the .head is straightforward;

'Fig. '7 is a transverse section of the head and neck piece, parts being omitted, with the head turned to the side to emphasize the means for limiting turning movement;

'ew looking in the Fig. 8 is a fragmentary V1 direction of the arrow in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4;

Fig. 10 is a section of the neck piece per se;

Fig. 11 is an end View of the neck piece.

Referring to the drawings, the head Ill of the doll may be made of rubber or any other suitable material. The eye, unit I! is of a conventional type whioh'may be swung to open and closed positions by a suitable eye actuating mechanism A. In the illustrated embodiment, this mechanism includes the rocker arm 12 which is actuated by a weight 13 under the influence of gravity. Obviously, other eye units and operating devices may be employed without departing from the improvements as for example, that described and claimed in the aforementioned parent application of which this is a continuation in part.

It will accordingly be apparent to those skilled in the art, that when the doll is in a substantially vertical upright position, the weight IE will be at the lower limit of its travel, so that the eyes Ii areheld open,as seen in Fig. 1. When the doll' is moved toward a horizontal or reclining position, the weight, I3 will swing the. eyes, as the case may be, to closed position. The position of the parts when the eyes are closed is shown in Fig. 2. This may be more clearly observed by turning the view sideways and comparing the position of the weight l3 in both Figs. 1 and 2. From the foregoing it will be obvious that when the doll is raised from a reclining position to' an upright position, the consequent swinging of the weight I3 will be in a reverse direction, whereupon the eyes will be opened.

face of the doll is straightforward, i. e., aligned with the chest C of the body or neck piece. In this' condition the eye actuating mechanism is free to function between the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Abutments or projections l1 pro vided on the interior of the head l0, are about 180 apart, and about 90 from a part or abutment l8 of the connecting mechanism for connecting the head and neck hereinafter described. These parts are substantially in thei'same horizontal plane, as seen in. Fig. 7, so that they abut one another, thereby limiting the turning move-' ment of the head relative to the body to the plane where they engage.

The structure which provides means for main taining the eyelids of the doll closed after the latter has been placed'in a reclining position and thereafter raised to a substantially upright position, is accomplished by a turning movement of.

the head relative to the body of the doll after the latter has been placed in a reclining position.

When in said reclining position the weight l3 has been swung toward the rear of the head ID, as in Fig. 2,.a-nd when: the latter is turned, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, said weight will move into engagement with and preferably behind a detent or projection 20 carried by the body or neck piece of the doll. In the present instance, this detent or projection is shown as a rubber'tubing, which joins the mouth of the doll with a neck-piece i5 fitted into the neck portion of the doll body, as specifically disclosed in my Patent #2,007,,'784 of July 9, 1935.

As seen in Fig. 4, the eye actuating mechanism is shown locked against further movementby gravity or otherwise. The detent or projection .20 is seen to be positioned underneath the weight is in Fig. 9, due to the relation of the parts after the head is turned. As the body andhead were moved'relative to each other, the projection was advanced from the position of Fig. 2, to that of Figs. 4 and 9. With the weight'thus engaged with said projection, the same willbe prevented from swinging forwardly when the doll is moved toward an upright position, as long :as the head It remains in its turned position. However, when said head is moved face, forwardly again, said weight 53 will be moved away from the projec tion ZG'and, when released from engagement therewith, will swing forwardly and thus effect the raising of the eyes and eyelids to positions as seen in Fig. 1. r 3

The foregoing described mechanism, as well as the manner of manipulation, serves likewiseto lock the eyes open. When the doll is disposed in an upright positionwith itshead straightforward as shown in Fig. 1, the eyes are open due to the weight 13 restingat the lower limit of its travel. In this condition '(as also in the condition in Fig. 2) the projection 29 is positioned beyond the range'or arc of the swinging weight [3. However, upon now turning the head and body relative to achother, theprojecti oh their open While the foregoing is the natural and cone 2% is advanced to the position shown in Fig. 3, which is substantially'the same as that of Fig. 4 except that in this circumstance, the weight I3 is at a different location, and the projection}!!! has therefore been moved against another portion of the weight. The latter is therefore locked against further movement by gravity or otherwise, since the projection 29 is positioned above the weight I 3 as seen in Fig. 8. Theprojection is therefore moved from. the position of Fig. 1 to that of Figs. 3 and 8. The head of Fig. 3 has been shown reclining, in order to emphasize the fact that the weight l3 cannot swing by gravity or otherwise due to projection 20.

Refering mo'reparticularly to Figs. 3 and 4, the releasing feature will be described. The head in Fig. 3 is reclining with the eyes locked open (contrary to normal expectancy) while the head inFig. 4 is upright with the eyes locked closed (also contrary to normal expectancy). The doll,

i. e., head and body, may be moved as a unit to any desired position or posture, without the eyes moving from either position shown in these views. If, howeventhe reclining head-in Fig. 3

is turned relative to the 'ch'estC of the body, the

weight l3 will be released and will drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the eyes will be closed. So also, if the upright head in Fig. 4 is turned relative to the chest of the body, the weight I3 will be released and will drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. Land the eyes will be opened.

Manifestly, the release of thelocked mechanism maybe accomplished in the manner de-' scribed, irrespective of the posture ,of the'doll, whether reclining or upright, since in either position the projection '20 is removed from the range or are of travel of weight. l3. The normal opening and closing of the eyes may thereupon continue as before.

While the projection 20, in the illustrated embodiment, serves the additional function of providing a tubing or conduit, it is obvious that a stud or otherelement may be employed on the neck'piece or body, as the case may. be, and the tubing dispensed with, to releasably lock the eye actuating mechanism.. Moreoven'the projection may comprise an abutment or elevated contour of the neckpiece without departing from thescope of the improvements.

Referring now to the neck joint construction, the neck piece l5; preferably formed of rubber,

is shown in Fig. 2 with head and body assembled.

Whilein Fig. 10, it is'shown alone and therefore not under tension. It comprises a chest portion Canda backportion B which support and fill out the body about-the'neckand shoulders. Likewise-the sternportion 25,,is formed with an enlargement Z'Iat the rear forfllling and supporting the back of the doll body between the shoulders.

An integral overhanging head portion 28 and a removable rigid 'bar 29 preferably metallic, are provided for connecting the head to the neck pieceor body. As illustrated, the head'portion 28 has an outwardly and downwardly extending annular flange 3! which encircles 'the'stem 26 and is spaced therefrom so 32. An annular bead 33 is edge of the flange, The projectionZll affords an entrance for liquids into the body whichhave been fed tofthe doll.

In assembling, the parts B and C :of the neck piece Hare, first inserted into the body l l of the as to provide a recess provided on the inner don through the opening of the neck. These it ar a tee from engagement with said tubing to allow said parts thereuponsupport and fill out the upper portion of the body, and the friction between the body and theseparts, resists relative movement thereof. This function is also derived from the fact that the diameter of the stem 26 of the neck piece is slightly larger than the diameter of the hole in the neck of the doll. The friction not only tends to prevent relative movement, but also the body jointhas a tigh t fit which renders it air and ,water tight.

The dolls head Hi may now be assembled, by

bending, back the ,flexibleflangetl of the neck piece and insertingit through the hole in the dolls head. This places the flexible stem under slight tension, and the flange 3| is flattened out with the bead 33 engaging the wall of the head. This arrangement places enough pressure on the parts so as to effect a liquid and air tight joint between the head, neck and body.

The recess 32 between the flange and stem affords an. annular space for the periphery of the opening in dolls head ill, whereby freedom of movement is afiorded without impairing the liquid and air tight joint. It is noteworthy that the stem 25 is shorter at the front than at the back and that the head portion 28 is therefore inclined toward the front. This feature serves to keep'the head in a natural position, with the chin close to the chest.

It is noteworthy, that the structure thus far described is sufficient for the purposes intended, but as an added insurance against a child pulling the head off, thecross bar 29 is provided.- This may be inserted through a hole 40 in the head portion 28 of the neck piece. The flexibility of the neck piece permits, the bar to be thrust inand thereupon retracts it to the position it has in Fig. 2. This bar 29 is longer than the diameter of the hole in the dolls head, so as to prevent some one from pulling it off. The hole 40, as seen in Fig. 10, is a curved passageway, so that when the bar 29 is inserted the walls will be distorted and will grip the bar, holding it in place. During assembly and removal, this feature is advantageous because when forcing the bar into the neck piece andthereupon into the dolls head, the neck piece yields with the bar, thereby permitting the latter to enter the head, whereupon it is retracted into position as the neck piece retracts on release of pressure on the bar. The overlaying endof bar 29 engages the head portion 28 and supplements the gripping action of hole 40, for centering bar 29 on the portion 28.

I claim: 1. The combination wit a doll body, a head turnable thereon and having a mouth opening, and a flexible tubing connecting said mouth opening'with the interior of said body; of, an eyeclosing and opening mechanism carried by said head and having a portion releasably engageable with said tubing, after said eye has been closed and said head turned in one direction, to maintain said eye closed whether said body be in a reclining or upright position. v ,2. The combination with a doll body, a head turnable thereon and having a mouth opening, and a flexible tubing-connecting said mouth opening with the interior of said body; of an eye closing and opening mechanism carried-by said head and having a portion releasably engageable with said'tubing,- after said eye has been closed and "said head turned in one direction to maintain mechanism to open said eye. V 3. The combination with a doll body, a head turnable thereon and having a mouth opening, and a flexible tubingconnecting said mouth opening with the interior of said body; of an eye closing and opening mechanism carried by said head and having a portion releasably engageable with said tubing, after said eye has been moved by said mechanism and said head turned in one direction, to maintain said eye in such position whether said body he in areclining or upright position.

4. The combination with a doll body, a head turnable thereon and having a mouth opening, and a flexible tubing connecting said mouth opening. with the interior ofsaid body; of an eye clos ing and opening mechanism carried by said head and having a portion releasably engageable with said tubing, after said eye has been moved by said mechanism and said headv turned in one direction to maintain said eye in such position whether said body be in a reclining or upright position, said head being turnable in an opposite V said head turned in one direction, to maintain said eye open whether said body he in an upright or reclining position. I

6. The combination with a doll body, a head turnable thereon and having a mouth opening, and a flexible tubing connecting said mouth opening with the interior of said body; of an eye closing and opening mechanism carried by said head and having a portion releasably engageable with said tubing, after said eye has been opened and saidhead turned inone direction to maintain said eye open, whether said body he in an upright or reclining position, said head being turnable in an opposite direction torelease said portion from engagement with said tubing to allow said mechanismto close said eye.

ing the gravity operated mechanism against subsequent response to the force of gravity, said releasable means being manually movable to unlock said mechanism by'turning said head.

9. Incombination, a doll body, ahead turnable thereon, a gravity operated eye actuating mechanism, means operable by manually turning said headrelative to said body for positively locking the mechanism with the eyes open or closed, said means being operable upon subsequent manually turning of said head for releasing said mechanism.

10. In combination, a doll body, a head turnable thereon, a gravity operated eye actuating Ultiiiearisjoperable manual-lyby turning saidhead relative to said body irrespective of the position ofthe doll with'respect to the vertical for locking said mechanism. 7 -'11 a device as set forth in claim 10, "wherein said means are subsequently operable manually by tu r'n-ihg; said head irrespective to the then positio'r'i of the doll for unlocking said mechanism. 12.-In combination, a doll body, a head tiirn ablethereon, a projection on said doll b'o'dy extending ihto said head,'and eye closing and opening meehanismeeriied by said head and having a portion ehg'ageable' with said projection, after said eye has been closed and said head turned in one direction on the body and with respect thereto, to maintain 'saidieye closed whether said body be in a reclining or upright position 13. In combination, a doll body, a head tu'rnable thereon, a projection on said doll body ektendii'igin'tosaid head, and eye closing and op'ening'inechahisin carried by said head and having aportion 'engageable with said projection, after said eye has been closed and said head turned in one direction on the body and with'r'e'spect there- I to, to maintain said eye closed whether said body be in a reclining or upright position, a turning of said head in an opposite direction releasing said portion from engagement with said projection to allow said mechanism to open said eye.

1-4. In combination, a doll body, a head turn able thereon, a projection on said doll body extending into said head, and eye closing and opening mechanism carried by said head and having a portion engageable with said projection, after s'aid eye has been moved by said mechanism and said head turned in one direction on the body and with respect thereto, to maintain said eye in such position whether said body'be in a reclining or upright position.

15. In combination, a doll body, a head turn a'ble thereon, a projection on said doll body extending into said head, and eye closing and openin'g mechanism 'carried by said head'and having a portion e'rigagealole with said projection, after said eye has been moved by said mechanism and said head turned in one direction on the body and with respect thereto, to maintain said eye in such position whether said body be in 'a recliningor upright position, a turning of said head in an opposite directionreleasing said por 'tioniro'n'i' engagement with said projection to allow said mechanism to again move said eye 16. In combination, a doll body, a head turn able thereon, an eye opening and closing mechanism within said head, normally operable with said head straightforward on said body, a detent within said head adapted to releasably -arrest operation oi said"mechanism, said"detent V being manually 'movableby moving said head relative" to said body, into and 'out of positions where operation or said opening and closing mechanism is, arrested. ,7

1'7; In a doll, a neck piece, ahead mounted thereon for turning movement, an abutment attached to the interior of said head, retaining means attached to said neck piece for "connectmg said neck piece and head'an abutment on said retaining means spaced ,from said first to openposition when said doll is upright,

an er-e e named 1 steel-sent, an abutmerits Being in the liaifih f travel and engageable with each other, when the head is "turned to prevent the turning movement of the head beyond the plane (if said abhtments when so engaged. 18. In Combination, a dolls head, a retaining nieansior connecting said head with a body of a 'doll comprising a resilient stern adapted to project throughan opening in the base of the dolls head, said stem having a head having an annular resili ent flange extending outwardly and downwardly from said head whereby a{ portion encircles said stem in spacedrelation thereto defining a recess between the stern and head, said dolls head having an opehingoi greater diamterthan said stem and of less diameter than said flange, said change when disposed within said head being in the dolls head.

20. 'A structure as set forth in foregoing claim 18 wherein one side 'of the 'ster'n'i's shorter than the other whereby the head of the stem is inclined for lowering the chin portion of the dolls head.

21. 'Ifhefcombiriatioh with a 21611 body, ahead turnabl thereon and having a pliant; non-metallic member mounted in the interior thereof, of an eye closing and opening mechanism carried by said head and having 'aportion releasabl-y ehga'geable with said member, after said eye has been positioned by said mechanism, and said head turned in one direction; to maintain said eye in such position in all positions of the body and whether said body be in a reclining or upright position.

22". The combination of a doll body, a head niova'bly rxioun'ted thereon, a non-gravity operating member mounted in the interior thereof said head and member being adjustabl'eto' different positions relative to each other on movement of said head relative to the body, an eye closing and open ng mechanism carried by said head and having a pdrtion' releasably engag'eable with said member, aft'r'said eye ha's been opened o'er closed by said mechanism, and said head turned in one direction, to maintain said eye in closed or open position whether said body be in'a reclining or upright position or on one side er the other.

2 3. The combination of a doll body, a head n'iovably mounted thereon, amem'ber mounted in the interior thereof, said head and member being adjustable toJdifferent'positions relative to each other by manual movementof said head relative to' the body, an eye closing'and opening mechanism carried by said, head and having a portion releasably' engageable with saidmemoer,- aftersaideye has been positioned by said mechanism, and said head turned in one directioh with'resp'ect to 'the body, to positively main ta-in said eye in closed or open position whether saidbo'dy be in a reclining or upright position.

MARIE ANN 

